The Good The Bad and The Ugly of Aquaponics

October marks the one-year anniversary of getting my aquaponics system up and running. I thought I’d share my experience with anyone thinking of going the aquaponics route for food production.

I’m using a 275-gallon Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) for the tank and grow bed with a flood and drain method that I modified myself. Now, there are various sizes and designs for an aquaponics system using equipment specifically manufactured for this purpose, but by building it myself (and making many mistakes) I learned more about how the system functions and find troubleshooting problems fairly easy.

Here’s my experience with aquaponics:

• Low maintenance. Once setup, fully cycled, planted, stocked with fish, and the flood and drain pump is on timer there is very little else to do except feed fish (auto feeder in use) and test the water weekly. And of course, harvest.

• Great for seed starting, especially more difficult seeds like parsley, which need to be kept moist until germination. Just drop seed into starter plug and wait for the sprout.

• Can grow heat loving veggies and herbs like basil through winter. My system is outside (in Hardiness Zone 8) and I have fresh basil through winter due to the heated water from the fish tank keeping the grow bed warm.

• You get a lot of food in a small space. I am reorganizing my system to focus primarily on herbs and cut-and-come again greens like Swiss Chard. I’ve had the most success with these and they provide an ongoing harvest without need for replanting.

• Getting the fish/plant balance can be tricky. The plants need sufficient fish waste for nutrients and the fish need enough plant roots filtering waste out of the water. If the nitrate levels are too low, remove and eat plants and/or add fish. If too high, add plants (if space available) and/or remove and eat fish.

• Plants that are heavy feeders, like tomatoes, will require additional mineral supplements. The quality of fish food will also be a factor. A local supplier where I live sells food formulated for aquaponics tilapia.

• Sudden fluctuations in pH, temperature or ammonia and nitrite levels can be stressful or even fatal to the fish. I sent several channel catfish to an early grave due to improper pH and ammonia management. (I’m so so sorry!)

• Plants will still be vulnerable to pests, but any treatment will need to take into account effects on the fish. Even some pest control products labeled ‘organic’ may not be healthy to the fish. Seek out a local vendor specializing in aquaponics to guide you through the process.

• As roots grow, they have a tendency to interfere with water draining from the grow bed. A clogged drain can cause an overflow and drown the plants. Keep drains clear, have an emergency overflow drain and grow shallow root plants to avoid this problem.

• POWER! This is the only point I have experience with that is (or can become) truly ugly. The water pump, heater and air pump are all dependent on energy to run. If the power goes out, the water stops circulating through the grow bed.
  This 1) stops the ammonia -> nitrate cycle and fish waste begins to accumulate in the tank. 2) stops water oxygenation and if the outage lasts long enough, the fish will suffocate and 3) will cause plant roots to dry out and the plants die.

An extended power outage could wreck the system. This almost happened to me last spring when a severe storm knocked out power for over 12 hours. Luckily, I had a 400watt multi-function power pack I keep in the car for a jump or flat/low tire and was able to plug in the water and air pumps until the power came back. The outside temperature was warm enough, so the heater wasn't necessary. The power pack would not have been able to handle the load anyway. I’ve since purchased a 1000watt inverter that I can hook up to the battery of an idling automobile. (Thanks to Steven Harris at battery1234.com for the idea!)

All in all, I feel an aquaponics setup is a good asset to have in a food security arsenal. It’s ideal for small spaces where garden beds, greenhouses or chicken coops would not be possible. It also works great for areas that do not get much rainfall or not enough at the right time of year.

For me, it’s one more source of clean, NON-GMO food that I have no concern eating or feeding my family.

Happy AquaPioneering!